Heel Walking Test

[B-Man]

I am sorry I am such a bother.  I posted a couple other times, and you put my mind at ease tremendously.  I was hoping you could do the same for this.
Since I have been twitching (for approx. 6 months now in my feet and calves), I have had and normal Neuro exam, normal EMG w/ muscle test on three limbs, and the Neuro keeps telling me I don't have "IT".  I try to mimik the exam and test myself with the heel/toe walking test and others and usually can put my mind at ease.  Yesterday I tried to walk on my heels and I felt as though I couldn't do it with my right foot.  Of course this scared me and I kept trying to do it.  This morning I feel like I have done a major excersize routine with my muscles around my shins.  The twitching has been mainly in my feet and it looks like a "wave" from heel to toe on my in-step.  My question is....Should the EMG in december picked up anything if I am feeling week in my right foot now (1.5 months later)?  I am a 32 y/o male and I am very scared.  I probably wouldn't have noticed this if I din't do this test to myself.  After 6 months of twitching, I would think I would be tremendously week by now, right?  Just looking for reassurance.  Thank you so much for your time.  I'm hoping this will be my last post.
Re,
B-Man

[JSK]

I've had the instep of both my feet twitching, withering, like a bag of worms for over 2 years now.  I went to a foot doctor, a bunch of neurologists, my family physician, had three MRI's., etc.   Nobody knows what it is.  I just try not to pay attention.  Wiggling my feet helps so I don't feel it so much.  Pretty wild.  I quit going to doctors about it, since they are of absolutely no help with this particualr problem.

The foot doctor (who was as old as the stars and obviously has seen alot) said he'd never seen it before.  He also gave me some great advise.  Quit worrying.  You could get hit by a bus today or die of a heart attack tommorrow.  You may or may not have some serious problem. Enjoy today.  Right on!

[twitch_city]

wow great post.  Check out bmans link to harvard med site.  Great site!  Great people!  Bman are you still around?  How are you doing?

[B-Man]

Still here...and still worried.  Working through it though.  That site is FANTASTIC.  Many people with similar worries.  I hope all is well with you.
Re,
B-MAN

[daddybear]

I've had constant muscle twitching in most muscle groups, primarily the calves, for 5 years. I also suffer facial pain, particularly along left lower jaw and difficulty swallowing. These symptoms have been present along with the fasiculation from day 1. I've just been re-referred to my Neuro because I have now developed(after a bout of flu) a migrating numbness in the lower legs where I have no sensation of my feet actally touching the ground, feeling returns after about 10 mins but it is scary. I've had 2 EMG's and 2 MRI's but nothing revealed.I know that after suffering for 5 years without any noticeable weakness( I walk and cycle for miles)that I aint got ALS but there sure is something going on. All I seek is peace of mind. Regards to all you fellow sufferers.

[twitch_city]

Bman that place just helps us recomfirm our fears of ALS.  How many times have these people there been told that nothing was wrong by several Neurologist only to be DX with ALS.  I am having problems with going to that site because it drives my fears deeper.  I am going to see anothe specialist again.  I am going to visit the MDA specialist again.  By the way I love your post to the Neurologist here along with your great questions.  Please continue to post here.  You are one of the only ones who asks quality questions I can use.  I have tried but cannot get through. Maybe me and you need to get a group rate at Mayo for Forbes Norris.  Thanks again my friend and may you have a great weeked.

[twitch_city]

Bman how do you feel after having the anwser from the doctor?  I have been to serveral neurologist and I am still not at ease.  The twicthing is out of control.  My leg twithes every three seconds.  My neck is stiff and painful.  I have not noticed any hand strenght for forearm strenght gone.  I do not know what it is going to take to get this monkey off my back.  I have had facial pain for almost a year now.  I talked to one doctor who said that beer is the root of all my evils.  Go figure!

[B-Man]

Johnny,
I've seen two Neuro's, had an EMG.  They both say I AM FINE.  I still don't believe them.  I want to..I really do.  It's just that I don't understand why this is happening.  I think if I had an answer that explained to me why this was happening, I would be able to except it much easier.  Since no one can give me a answer, I tend to migrate towards the disease that explains the twitching...ALS.  I know this is irrational fears, but I guess I am going to have to teach my engineering brain to except the things that are not explainable.  Man...it is so hard to do.  There is one place where people like you and I can go and there are MANY others with the same symptoms.  I post there quite often as "SHADES".  Just copy and paste the link below.

http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Neuromuscular&number=65&DaysPrune=1000&LastLogin=

[Siggy00]

Can someone email me with some help?  I don't think I have ALS either, but I am worried about some things.  

I am 32, have CP in my legs/hips, in poor shape, and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  

They did a CAT SCAN on my chest, to my pelvic bone, normal.  From November 26th 2001 I have had blood work done on me three times.  Nothing.  

I can swallow my food, no problems with buttons, etc.  Throat sometimes is sore but never to the point of not being able to eat or swallow food.  

I guess what worries me sometimes are muscle spams, especially in my knees, and sometimes my butt but nothing too severe.  Also get pains in my calves and the bottoms of my feet (My workout habits are null and void right now).  My face cheeks do not spasm, but I feel tingly sensations sometimes.  I know tingling is a sign of Fibro also.  

I guess what I am wondering is, wouldn't something with ALS show up on the CAT SCAN?  In the blood work?  I also heard muscle pain isn't really a ALS sign so in a way should I be happy I'm sore?  Could it just be my CP (I walk inward) catching up to my advancing age?  

Any email with info would help, you can contact me at ***@****

Thanks!

Sig

[B-Man]

I am still twitching in my feet for about 6 months now.  ALL OVER.  It is so annoying.

[twitch_city]

Bman what is the longest you have ever twitched in one spot?  Just curious.  Do you have any pain anywhere?

[B-Man]

Thank you Doctor.  You are such a GREAT help.  Much appreciated.
Re,
B-Man

[DeeMaxx]

Please can someone help me :(

for the last year and a half i've been having very strange symptoms and i'm really scared i might have ALS

The first time i noticed it was when ever i did something vigerus
with my hands they would swell and become very weak and itchy a type of
itch that you couldn't releive by scratching it.
As time went on my little finger became numb and hafe the finger
beside that one,first it was in one hand then it spread to both,
after about 6 months the feeling came back in both hands but they were very weak.
i wake at least 4 times a night with both hands numb and i have to shake them to get the feeling back,i'm not lying on them or any thing like that,also i get alot of twinges
of pain down both arms through out the day,2 months ago i got up and noticed a deep
ache in both my shoulders,i can move them fine but as soon as i
strech my arm out to lift something like a coat off a hook
i get a very bad ache in either shoulder,this also happeneds if i lift something above my head,i also have pain on the
inner parts of both elbows only when i poke my finger in.
recently i've started to get twitches mostly on my face,
it started on my eyebrow for a couple of days none stop,that finally stopped
then my eyelid started twitching then other parts of my face,
now i've started getting them in my throat and around my neck,
also i've been getting like a tingling on the soles of both feet
like a buzzing feeling that lasts for hours at a time.
when i walk my legs get very tierd at the chins like the muscles
are over worked,i have to then stop and rest them for a good few minutes before i can walk again,my arms are starting to get
the same thing i cant even hold the phone with out having to rest my elbow on something.
sorry to go on about this but i'm really worried and my doctor doesn't know what it could be,she checked my blood and said
everything was fine except my liver readings were slightly up,
i don't drink so i don't know how that could be.
another thing that has got me concerned is my hands always
feel fat and weak and now and again my thumbs on both hand and sometimes my fingers will start to move side to side on their own
and i have to hold them to stop them.

Dose this sound like ALS or could it be something else just as bad?

sorry to write about this in this thread,but every time i try
to post i get a message that the limit has been reached.

I really appreciate any ones thoughts on what could be happening to me :(

Oh and i almost forgot to mention i've been having alot of memory
problems lately aswell,sometimes when i'm talking i struggle
with finding the right word and my mind will just draw a blank,
it's very embarassing :(


Thanx in advance

[B-Man]

I am not a doctor, but I have been told over and over by qualified personell that pain is NOT a symptom of ALS.  The pain in ALS is normally from cramping which everyone, some time or another, becomes familiar with THAT pain.  Also....within a year and a half with your symptoms, most Doc's would tell you that if it were ALS, you would more than likely have SIGNIFICANT weakness.  I still say you should be checked out by a Neuro, but I would guess that your symptoms are caused by something treatable.  Go see your Doc and put your mind at ease.
Rest Easy,
B-Man

[B-Man]

Hey bigdaddy,
I'm still here.  As worried as ever.  I'm not sure about your EMG questions.  I'm not the right person to ask on that anyway being that I am a scared "nutcase" right now :-).  As for thethroat problems....I had some problems with my speach, but I really and truly believe it was anxiety related and being so hypervigelant.  I am trying so darn hard to shake this scare, but I can't seem to do so.  I do find confort in one forum that I check out and post in quite often ....

http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=65&forum=Neuromuscular&DaysPrune=365&startpoint=0

Just cut and paste.  It has great people in there where you can post your worries and many people respond.  I hope this helps.
Re
B-Man

[Crazyman]

Hi Bman!  I had figured you had beat this mind game  I am really sorry that you keep thinking of the "A" word.  Have you been seen by a neuro-muscle specialist?  The kind of doctor who only examines people with MDA disorders.  I still am working on this mind game too!  The twitching is driving me mad!  I have had three emgs now!  Do you know if an emg on the right side would pick up problems on the left side?  Do you ever have problems with your throat?  Tightness, diffuculty swallowing, hoarseness?  How long doe the twitching stay?  Doe it stay for hours,days,weeks?  I am just curious?  Do you have any shoulder problems?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

I agree with your statement. With the amount of twitching you've had for the last 6 months, if you truly had ALS, you would most likely have much more clinically significant weakness than mere difficulty with heel walking. This is also not the typical distribution of weakness seen in ALS, which in many cases (certainly not all) start in the hands and forearms. Relax and take a break from the home neuro exams for a while. You can try again next week if you like. I have not personally examined you nor have I reviewed any of your diagnostic workup, but from this posting and your prior ones, your symptoms do NOT sound typical of the dreaded disease. Your workup which has all been reported as normal also should be reassuring. Stay in touch with your neurologist and consider a followup appointment down the line or sooner if your symptoms worsen. Good luck.


And for the record, patients like you who are just concerned about their health and well-being are NOT a bother, no matter how many times they post.